The most important game of the season : Preview

By 4two
April 14 2003

A win against the Sky Blues would really put pressure on our relegation rivals. We could also move above City with a win. Lee has 5 players carrying knocks, and 2 of them are central defenders.

Big Points

Saddlers Vs Coventry Preview

Date : 15/04 Time: 7:45pm Venue: Bescot, Walsall Saddlers News

Should be plenty of spaces. Coventry should sell their 1900 allocation. We should expect a crowd within the region of 6-7000.

You cannot miss the stadium if you travel along the M6. It is just off Junction 9, then the A461 road leads you around to the Stadium. It is well signposted from the Motorway. You can Leave at Junction 10, it takes longer but it is also sign posted. It is a 20 minute walk from the town center, and it is also served by its own Station "Bescot Stadium Station". (Guide to Bescot)

Roper, O'Connor, Wrack and Leitao all picked up knocks on Saturday. Hay is the only player certain not to feature. Lee may have to go 4-4-2 if Roper and O'Connor fail to recover. Robinson's suspension continues, while Walker may well dislodge Ward in goal.

Moroccan international Safri is ruled out of the clash. Gary Mac is going to keep faith with reserve keeper Gary Montgomery as Coventry are just 4 games away from paying Morten Hyldgaards former club £100,000 for appearances.

0-0 Last Meeting 26/10/2002

The Last 10 Games.... Walsall       Coventry City Ven Versus Pos A 1 - 0 Gillingham W 9 H 1 - 2 Portsmouth L 1 A 0 - 2 Crystal Palace L 14 A 0 - 5 Preston L 14 H 3 - 2 Burnley W 11 H 1 - 2 Millwall L 16 A 0 - 0 Rotherham D 8 A 2 - 1 Bradford W 19 A 0 - 1 Stoke L 24 H 2 - 0 Watford W 8 Ven Versus Pos H 2 - 4 Ipswich L 7 A 2 - 2 Preston D 12 H 1 - 2 Leicester L 2 H 0 - 4 Portsmouth L 1 A 0 - 2 Norwich L 8 H 2 - 2 Wimbledon D 14 A 1 - 5 Sheff Wed L 24 A 2 - 0 Grimsby W 22 H 0 - 2 Bradford L 19 A 0 - 1 Rotherham L 10

One2Watch: Jamie Lawrence will be making his home debut for the Saddlers at a time when they desperately need 3 points to leap frog their rivals. He had an impressive on Saturday, and deserved a goal to top off a fine performance. . One2Watch: Who else but Gary Mac? The man who seemed to be the person who would change Coventry's fortunes. Their form has been awful recently, and he is the man who has to carry the can for it. No one will want a win more than the former Leeds and Liverpool man.

Verdict

The chance to go above the Sky Blues, and even leap frog Derby or Bradford City is an exciting prospect. 3 Points on Tuesday and Brighton would be 9 points behind the Saddlers. That means that they would have to win 3 of their last 4 games to go catch us, and then we have a superior goal difference. Coventry are in crisis, we have to take advantage. This is  the most important game of the season so far.

Prediction: Saddlers 3-2 Coventry